THE STAKES: With the season on the brink, the Hawaiian Islanders take another step closer to qualify for the af2 playoffs with a big over Louisville last weekend and must continue to put pressure on the division leading Blitz as they face the Central Valley Coyotes.

THE IFs:
If the Islanders defeat the Coyotes, it would
· Give the ISLANDERS a 4-0 series sweep over the Coyotes in 2004
· Give the ISLANDERS a 6-4 all-time series lead
· Give the ISLANDERS a 4-3 road record in 2004.
· Give Hawaii Head Coach Cal Lee a 20-13 record
· Give Hawaii a 3-1 record in July.

THIS WEEKS QUOTES:
Head Coach Cal Lee: We still have our guys competing and thats what we want for our final stretch of games. Central Valley is a dangerous team and they would like nothing better than to finish their season with a win over us.

ISLANDERS ILLUSTRATED:
Join host Alema Harrington for Islanders Illustrated, an informative 30-minute look behind the scenes at the Hawaiian Islanders, the only professional franchise in the state. See highlights from last weeks game as well as a preview of upcoming opponents. Youll also see interesting interviews with coaches, players and items that make the Islanders your only team in town.

The show airs 11 times each week with a new show on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable 16. Check local listing for air times

ARENAFOOTBALL2 PLAYOFF FORMAT:
The 2004 af2 playoffs will feature 12 teams and span four weeks with the American Conference champion meeting the National Conference champion in the 2004 ArenaCup on the weekend of August 26-28.

Six teams from each the American and National Conference will qualify for the postseason. Within each conference the two division champions with the best overall records earn a bye in the first round. The remaining division champion hosts the lowest seeded wildcard team, while the other two wild card teams play each other at the venue of the team with the better overall record.

In the second round, the two teams, which earned a first round bye, host the winners of the first round games. The division winner with the best overall record hosts the lowest seeded winner from round one, while the other division winner hosts the other first round winner.

Winners of second round games meet for the conference finals, and the team with the better overall record is the host. The American Conference champion meets the National Conference champion in the 2004 ArenaCup. The participating team with the better overall record hosts the championship game.

HEAD COACHES:
Cal Lee was named head coach of the Hawaiian Islanders on October 23, 2002 giving fans across Hawaii an added excitement for the 2003 season and he delivered on his promise. He turned a 5-11, 2002 season to an 11-7 record in 2003. He also gave Hawaii its first west division crown. Lee is the most prolific football coach in Hawaii high school history. In 21 years as a head coach at St. Louis High School (Honolulu), his teams have compiled a 241-32-5 record, which include 18 league titles and 15 state championships.

Fred Biletnikoff Jr., New Coyotes interim head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. is the third head coach in Central Valleys 3-year history.
Biletnikoff Jr. began his second season in the af2, having joined the Coyotes in January as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. His first stint with an arenafootball2 team was in 2002 with the Fresno Frenzy, where he served as an offensive assistant. Along with his Coyotes responsibilities, Biletnikoff Jr. will also continue to serve as offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the Fresno City Rams, where he has been since 2000.
Before joining the Rams staff at Fresno City College, Biletnikoff spent two seasons (91-92) at Alameda High School coaching wide receivers and defensive backs. In 1993 he joined the football staff at Chabot College with current Coyotes defensive Coordinator Doug Murray, where he coached running backs, wide receivers and was also offensive coordinator.

PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES:
Meadow Gold Dairies Family FANFest: An interactive fan experience thats a great place for Islanders fans and their families to get "IN the Game". FANFest is located at the Blaisdell Arena box office parking lot during every home game from 4:30 pm until kickoff. Kids can enjoy the Islanders inflatable replica arena football field, a quarterback challenge, face painting, poster making, milk mustaches, Meadow Gold Dairies samples, and great entertainment. Kawika Moo, Gusto the Gecko, and Tiny Tadani of OC-16's Tiny TV will be part of the festivities at every FANFest. Exclusive to Meadow Gold Dairies FANFest, thirty lucky fans at each FANFest will be chosen to sit in the "Kawika Moo Bullpen", the endzone VIP seats, for that night's game

KEY DATES IN TEAM HISTORY:
September 6, 2001  The league offices of arenafootball2 announces Honolulu will be awarded a franchise for the 2002 season. Charles Wang and his daughter Kimberly will be the operators of the team. Hawaii becomes the ninth (of 10) expansion team named for the 2002 season.
January 7, 2002  Former all-state quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is assigned to the Islanders making him the first player in team history.
January 19, 2002 - The Hawaiian Islanders hosts an open tryout at Central Oahu Regional Park. Over 30 players endured the soggy conditions and participated in the three-hour workout
February 4, 2002  Islanders host Pacific Rim Training Camp where over 180 participants from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji attended.
March 30, 2002 - Islanders defeat the Fresno Frenzy 50-47 before 4,376 fans at the Blaisdell Arena marking the first game, the first win and the first home win in team history.
June 22, 2002  Despite losing 56-48 at Bakersfield, quarterback Darnell Arceneaux rushes for an af2 record-tying five touchdowns.
July 20, 2002  Hawaii rallies from a 21-0 deficit to upset the two-time defending af2 champion Quad City Steamwheelers 56-55 before 5,185 fans. Two days later, Nian Taylor was named National Ironman for the second consecutive week. Combined with his National Built Ford Tough award three weeks earlier, he becomes the first player to win three national awards in a four-week period.
October 23, 2002 Cal Lee become the Islanders new coach for the 2003 season.
March 12, 2003  Training camp opens with 16 veterans making the 35-man squad. Islanders announced they sold nearly 1,200 season tickets compared to only 16 from last year.
March 30, 2003  Exactly one year following the Islanders first season and first win against Fresno, Hawaii opens the 2003 with a 48-37 win over Green Bay and gives head coach Cal Lee is first win as an af2 coach.
April 4, 2003  A missed extra point gives Hawaii a stunning 53-52 win over Quad City. It only the third time in 25 games in which the Steamwheelers have lost a game at home.
July 5, 2003  Hawaiian Islanders qualifies for the playoffs, its first in franchise history.
July 21, 2003  With Hawaiis win over San Diego and the Bakersfield-Wichita tie, the Islanders clinch their first west division title and the number three seed in the playoffs.
Aug. 1, 2003  Hawaii defeats Wichita 57-30 in the first round of the af2 playoffs.
Aug. 9, 2003  The eventual af2 champion Tulsa Talons ends Hawaii season with a 59-38 win in Tulsa, Oklahoma.